Letters To The Editor

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Education alone won’t avert hepatitis

Your Feb. 21 editorial proclaimed “Immunizations not best response.” It went on to state that hand washing has been proven effective and called upon the Spokane Regional Health District to divert its resources to a public education campaign.

Interventions spearheaded by the health district during the hepatitis A epidemic have been two-pronged. We are giving equal emphasis to education and immunizations. Some of our educational efforts include pamphlets distributed through grocery stores and other public places, articles in newsletters, classes in work sites and other gatherings, and bus signs.

The problem is that an all-out educational campaign has never stopped a hepatitis A epidemic. The editorial elaborates its point about hand washing and community education by repeating the often-stated recitation that no cases in the Spokane epidemic can be attributed to food workers. The health district makes the statement that there are no confirmed cases from food worker exposure. There is substantial evidence that there has been spread from at least one restaurant exposure. We have just not been able to prove it. Proof is hard to come by when the investigation occurs a month or more after the initial exposure.

Immunizations are an essential response to the hepatitis A epidemic in Spokane County. Experience from other kinds of epidemics indicates that an effective immunization campaign is the only hope we have of curtailing the epidemic before it runs its natural course. Kim Marie Thorburn, M.D., M.P.H. health officer, Spokane Regional Health District

Problem lies with user, not tool

In a recent news item, a young lady who had cut her thumb on a shop table saw said she had tried to dislodge a small piece of wood from the blade.

I have attended night woodworking classes in four high schools, and the first thing they teach you is shop safety and to show great respect for all tools, especially large power tools. You should always turn the saw off and wait for the blade to stop turning before you ever put your hand near the blade. Even good common sense dictates this, as the saw is made to cut whatever is placed near it, whether it be metal, wood or flesh and bone.

Why is it that so many people are so quick to blame everyone or everything else instead of taking responsibility for their own actions? Why put the shop off limits to all the students and punish them for an infraction of safety rules by one student?

I hope the young lady doesn’t cut herself with a knife or stick herself with a pin in her new endeavors in the home economics class, or they will probably have to close down the whole school. Jerry Crandall Loon Lake

HIGHER EDUCATION

Think carefully about West’s plan

Those interested in a low-cost, high-quality college education in Spokane should seriously consider the possible ramifications of the modest proposal to turn over to Washington State University the responsibility for upper division and graduate courses of Spokane, and give WSU the keys to Riverpoint.

If the 28 programs currently offered by Eastern Washington University are booted out of Spokane (the language in SB6717 would make this possible), our poor students will be eaten alive by higher WSU tuition and EWU enrollment could shrink to a mere 4,000, making it impossible to even maintain the physical facilities of the campus.

Meanwhile, future WSU Spokane students may find themselves being lectured at from television sets or instructed by adjuncts. Taxpayers have the right to question the cost of building a full research institution in Spokane and should demand further study before sacrificing our educational futures to the political ambitions of some of our state legislators. Paulette G. Scott, chairwoman English Department, EWU Spokane

Clark should reveal culprit’s name

Once again, columnist Doug Clark has been allowed to use his soapbox (“Lampoon finds Mark, so EWU targets author,” Feb. 22) to toss pies at the not-so-smiling faces of Eastern Washington University administrators.

Clark seems to relish any and all attacks upon his alma mater, hiding behind the First Amendment while encouraging other Twain wannabes to do the same.

As for the origin of this mysterious letter ridiculing former EWU president Mark Drummond, if Clark knows the author’s identity - as he claims - there should be ways to force him to reveal the person’s identity. The First Amendment is clearly not intended to protect cowardly scribes’ attempts at satire.

Perhaps state Sen. Jim West, who has done so much for EWU in the recent past (merger proposals, Seahawk negotiations), could use his influence to arrange some modifications to the First Amendment. In the meantime, Clark should leave the business of making EWU officials look stupid to those who do it best. Rick Nesbitt Spokane

THE ENVIRONMENT

USFS should limit roads

Visiting Western Washington and Oregon makes evident the enormous impact the timber industry has on private and public lands. Vast areas once covered with diverse forests providing habitat for many plants and animals have been interrupted by roads, clearcut and converted into uniform tree plantations.

One sees huge old stumps representing the giants that used to grow there. Now, the only place visitors can observe these majestic trees is in isolated parks, protected like rare animals in a zoo.

Whole mountainsides are crisscrossed with logging roads, stripped of original forests, causing erosion, landslides and dumping silt into streams where fish are extinct or endangered. During heavy rains, streams originating from roadless, unlogged forests run crystal clear. Streams from forests that have been clearcut and/ or have tree farm areas and roads are clouded with mud.

There are over 400,000 miles of logging roads on public lands, most of which the Forest Service can’t afford to maintain. Timber sales never covered the true costs of road construction, maintenance and environmental damage. Consequently, USFS has recommended a temporary moratorium on road building in roadless areas greater than 5,000 acres.

Unfortunately, this decision is far too timid. The agency should decommission most roads, providing enormous environmental benefits and saving tax dollars. All road building in roadless areas greater than 1,000 acres or on lands adjacent to national parks or Wild and Scenic Rivers should be prohibited.

Let’s hope Montanans have the restraint to keep what has happened in Washington and Oregon from happening in our state. John L. Noyes, M.D. Kalispell, Mont.

Rock Creek shouldn’t be sold out

Thank you for your coverage of the proposed Asarco mine in Noxon, Mont. I would like to share my interest in the protection of the Rock Creek and Cabinet Mountain region with the following quote:

“For centuries of human history the wilderness has given way. The priority of industry has become dogma. Are we as yet sufficiently enlightened to realize that we must now challenge that dogma? Do we realize that industry, which has been our good servant, might make a poor master? Our remnants of wilderness will yield bigger values to the nation’s character and health than they will to its pocketbook, and to destroy them will be to admit that the latter are the only values that interest us.” - Aldo Leopold, 1925

For the last 70, years we have allowed industry to consume wilderness throughout our region. Should we assume all that really matters to us is money in the here and now?

I often hike and flyfish the Rock Creek area. It is very special to me, as it is one of the few places not contaminated by development. Apparently, all good things must end - unless politicians in Montana and Idaho have the desire to support efforts to protect it.

I realize they are faced with a politically difficult decision. Many of their constituents view the project as a job opportunity. And heck, who needs to answer to the constituents’ children and grandchildren? They don’t even have a vote. Rodney Zuyderwyk Spokane

Salmon protection story newsless

Re: the Associated Press article, “Chinook protection to affect city dwellers” (Feb. 15).

The article blames current logging industry difficulties on efforts to save the remaining 8 percent of old-growth forests, rather than on unsustainable logging activities during the 1980s. After losing most of its credibility, the article then suggests urban residents will be shocked to find that protection of Chinook salmon under the Endangered Species Act may cost them money.

I am a student at Washington State University from the Puget Sound area. My highly intellectual response to the suggestion that improving watershed health requires Puget Sound residents to modify some current practices and spend a bit of money is: no duh!

Whether it be for schools, roads or medical care, Washington state citizens spend money every year on efforts to improve our quality of life. Why should we suspect that redesigning our urban communities to provide for healthy river ecosystems be any different? As a father of two small children, I can think of few better ways to invest in their future. Brian R. Bolam Pullman

People will have to demand action

We sue the tobacco companies, even sue for secondary smoke from cigarettes. Automobile exhaust is killing also.

They say emissions are being greatly reduced but don’t mention that the number of automobiles will more than double in the near future. Why not sue the big three automakers, government and the oil companies for not getting electric vehicle conversion or new electric vehicles out yesterday?

In our capitalistic society, we have supply and demand. We support government with our money. If the president were to mandate that all government vehicles be electric, where possible, then the costs would go down. Also, tax credits could be allowed to convert your second or commuter vehicle to electric.

We as a society need to bring change. The government and big business will drag it out unless we make it happen. Bill L. Hagenbarth Spokane

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Actions speak louder than special events

I agree with Holly Everett (“Focus on local efforts,” Letters, Feb. 16), that we strive every day for the opportunity of choice. My choice, however, is to thank The Spokesman-Review for not giving greater coverage to the local opening ceremony of “A Season for Nonviolence.”

It’s not that I do not honor or believe in the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or Mahatma Gandhi - quite the contrary. My problem is the establishments and organizations that use such events to further their own causes without practicing the principles espoused.

I realize many who attended that evening truly believe in nonviolence and practice it daily. I also know that some involved in the event had a choice just a few months ago to practice the teachings of these great men. Instead, they chose violence to stop an individual from peacefully speaking out against a perceived wrong. I know because I am that individual.

We can all talk the talk but it’s much harder to walk the walk. We need to be able to do both before we ask others to join us. Mary Omer Spokane

Victimhood becoming national cop-out

In “Texas murder trial winds down” (Feb. 17), a single line struck me: “Jurors heard (Diane Zamora) described Monday as … a helpless victim of a controlling boyfriend.”

“Victim” is the word for the ‘90s. If someone dislikes their circumstances, they’re a “victim.” Can’t we see this term just reflects our human selfishness? We’re so prepared to always blame our problems on other people or things, never ourselves. What happened to the time when people took responsibility for their actions, when people would step forward and say, “Yes, I did it. It was my fault”? If people would take more responsibility, our society would become much more caring, and much more hospitable. Joe F. Farley, age 16 Spokane

Yes, Wiccan beliefs are different

In regards to the article on Wicca (Feb. 22) and as the sister of the last girl you quoted, I thought I might give you a small insight.

I, too, held those same beliefs at one time, but there is not the peace and security and grace that there is with Christ. Although she shares different views from the family, she is still embraced and loved by this very Christian family. I may not agree with her beliefs, but that is no reason to reject someone.

Also, although there are many misconceptions about Wiccans, many just about hit home. I doubt anyone will argue that the moral standards between a Wiccan and a Christian vary greatly.

Lastly, when I made the argument to my sister long ago that Jesus Christ said “love one another,” it was not until later that I realized the full responsibility of that statement. Loving someone also means caring about their salvation. Erin L. Kent Spokane

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

Starr is in the right

Amidst this quagmire, Kenneth Starr’s efforts are historic. Speaking for my wife, two young sons and daughter, I commend the Office of Independent Counsel for its untiring work in pursuit of justice and truth on behalf of the American people.

I support all of them and trust their judgment regarding the recent subpoena of Sidney Blumenthal. There is no threat to freedom of speech involved in their search for sources of misinformation, rather, so ominously lurking is a threat to the rule of law - the one indispensable cornerstone to all freedoms.

I also fully support the independent counsel statute. Certainly without it, the roughshod abuse of law and truth perpetrated by this administration and its allies would “fade away into insubstantiality,” to use Hillary Clinton’s words, and our system of justice might never recover its measure of authority and rule. Much is in the balance with this investigation.

Starr has proven himself beyond reproach to me, and I’m picky. Curtis Jay Johnson Coeur d’Alene

A bad man will be bad leader, too

“The Monica Lewinsky issue should just go away.”

“Whatever he does in his private life is his own business.”

“The economy is good and as long as it doesn’t affect me, I don’t care.”

Statements like those are hiding places for people who don’t want to admit, even to themselves, that they voted for a man of low moral character. Were the president of my company to have a relationship with a subordinate like the one President Clinton is suspected of, people would be screaming for his head. Shall we hold the president of the United States to lower standards?

Normally, I don’t have much use for anybody’s private life being scrutinized. But I heard somebody say something the other day that really made me think. “You can’t be one kind of man and another kind of president.” How many of us conduct our personal lives with less honesty than our professional lives? Few, I think. No one is 100 percent honest 100 percent of the time. But I’m pretty sure that whatever level of integrity I hold myself to at home is the same for at work. Randall M. Jones Newman Lake

Animal treatment a yardstick of sorts

I read with dismay the story about the man in Wallace, Idaho, who gassed and dumped 13 week-old puppies.

As a day care provider and animal lover in the Spokane area, I have always maintained that you can tell a lot about what kind of a parent a person is by the way they treat their animals. Let’s hope his children are in better shape than his dogs. Kristy L. Bennett Spokane